Circular walk

Gunnera manicata

The walk around Bocombe Mill Cottage grounds was completed in 2004 with the installation of the Hunter Gate leading from the Orchard into the top of our Goat Hillside.

We've planned and constructed this circular walk over a period of seven years. The new walk takes in the vast majority of features, both natural and man-made, in a distance of just under one mile. The following list of the perambulation misses out the wonderful detail, spectacular views, and hundreds of plant species to be enjoyed on the way!

From the front gate, visitors make their route through the:

• Entrance via the Architectural Steps
• Magnolia Walk
• Stumpery
• Front Lawn and the bantams (works may be taking place here in 2008)
• Kitchen Garden and Scree Slope beds
• Pieriss Bed
• Damson Walk with shade loving plants
• Yellow and Blue Garden
• Red Garden
• New shorter walk for 2008 via the new Eucalyptus steps
• Statue Garden (newly planted garden)
• Barrel Garden (newly planted garden, construction works started)
• Japanese Garden, returning to the Kitchen Garden via the Meadow Border
• Longer walk continue down the ramp to the Metasequoia glyptostroboides Grove
• Extended Shrubbery (hiding a host of compost & leaf mould bins) 
• Hemerocallis Bed
• Meadow Border
• Bog Garden, shaded, alongside Willow Brook
• Bocombe Chase
• Upper Water
• New, sunny Bog Garden (construction & planting now underway)
• Lower Water
• Wild Flower Meadow with a host of specimen trees / tumbling stream
• Ancient Footpath
• Hermitage Walk
• Beech Wood
• Orchard
• Goat Hillside
• Soft Fruit Garden, Asparagus bed and new Cedar wood Greenhouse
• Hydrangea Slope

There's a plan and tree guide for our circular walk available to visitors at Bocombe Mill Cottage Garden.

Dipping well	Indian runner ducks

Visitors should note that the ground on the circular walk after the Red Garden may be soggy and wellies or boots are suggested. The walk from the Ancient Footpath / Hermitage Walk onwards is usually much drier, but becomes quite steep in places. Our goats may well be met on Goat Hillside, and the hillside is surrounded by an electric fence. Paths and steps may be slippery and uneven; visitors should take care. There are two large areas of water and numerous streams, all are unfenced and children should be supervised closely. Please close all gates!